Memorials › Leo J. Gruntorad
Leo J. Gruntorad
8 Feb 1932 – 16 Jan 1955
| Birth | 8 Feb 1932 |
| Death | 16 Jan 1955 |
| Cemetery | Elm Creek Catholic Cemetery Elm Creek , Buffalo County , Nebraska , USA |
| Added by | Candice Wickwire on 19 Jul 2019 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9532003 |
Gravesite details
U.S. Military veteran, Korea.
Bio
Leo Gruntorad, Overton, Dies of Accidental Injuries Leo J. Gruntorad, 22, of Overton, died Sunday afternoon in Kearney hospital of injuries received in an accident, Jan. 8. He was struck on the head by a limb while felling a tree on the Lynn Bowie farm south of Elm Creek. Born and reared in the Elm Creek area, he entered military service Sept. 8, 1952, and received his honorable discharge, July 15, 1954. He spent 18 months in Korea, and was wounded in action. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. He reached the rank of staff sergeant in the infantry. The Bronze Star with Letter V device for heroic achievement is awarded to CORPORAL LEO J. GRUNTORAD , Company K, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division, United States Army. On the night of 10 June and during the early morning hours of 11 June 1953, elements of the 15th Infantry Regiment had the mission of defending a strategically valuable friendly-held outpost in the vicinity of (Outpost Harry) Surang-ni, Korea, when a numerically superior hostile force launched an intense assault against them. As the enemy stormed the position, Corporal Gruntorad, an automatic rifleman, fired his weapon with unerring effectiveness. During the initial enfilade, his assistant gunner was seriously wounded. Summoning a medical aid man, he immediately had his comrade safely evacuated. He thereupon continued to man his weapon alone, firing at the enemy, many of whom had now gained the friendly trenches. Detecting hostile troops in the trenchway to the rear of his bunker, he immediately repositioned his weapon and accurately fired into the foe as they charged upon his position. He remained at his post throughout the night, accounting for numerous enemy casualties. Corporal Gruntorad's outstanding heroism and devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and the military service. Entered the federal service from Fairfield, Nebraska. HQ 3ID GO 252, 12 July 1953. Leo was subsequently wounded in action – shrapnel in his hip – and was hospitalized; this took place July 26, 1953, one day before the truce was signed that stopped the Korean War. Surviving were his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James J. Gruntorad Overton; three brothers, Nicholas, James and Edwin, all of the Elm Creek- Overton area; his paternal grandfather, Henry Gruntorad, Linwood, maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Thinnes| of Overton.
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